Texans cut Quintez Cephus ahead of the 53-man deadline, ending a brief Houston stint after training camp and a jittery 2024 where he bounced between the 49ers, Bills and Rams without a regular-season roster spot. Despite four catches for 51 yards and a score in the final preseason win over Detroit, depth at wide receiver proved too much for Cephus to crack, leaving him to chase a practice squad opportunity or another NFL stop.

Cephus is one of three Wisconsin pass-catchers linked to this roster fate, alongside Kendric Pryor and Bryson Green. Fantasy players should watch how the Texans reshuffle their WR room and whether any of the UW alums land on practice squads, potentially surfacing as late-season depth or waiver adds. Cephus’ path illustrates how quick roster fates can flip in a crowded NFL WR market.

Graham Mertz shined in Houston’s 26-7 preseason win over Detroit, completing 14 of 16 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He threaded a late-drive TD to Quintez Cephus, highlighting a Wisconsin connection and boosting Cephus’s roster case as the Texans battle for depth at WR. Kedon Slovis wasn’t far behind, but Mertz’s efficiency gives him a notable edge in the Texans’ third-string QB competition, with Cephus pressing for a spot despite a crowded WR room.

Graham Mertz guided a Texans drive with poise, completing 11-of-13 passes for 122 yards, including a 6-yard TD to Quintez Cephus as Houston built a 16-7 cushion against Detroit in the preseason.

Cephus, a long-shot for the 53-man roster, flashed again at Ford Field after a similar catch in joint practice, keeping his odds alive. Houston heads into halftime ready for the second half, and the regular-season opener at SoFi against the Rams looms as a bigger stage for Mertz’s development and Cephus’s roster case.

Fantasy watchers should note the QB depth development and Cephus’s ongoing evaluation, with decisions on the Texans’ WR depth and Mertz’s long-term upside still very much in flux.